softheart
05-14-2003, 03:26 PM
May 14, 2003
18 pulled from truck are dead; suspect arrested in Harris County
By EDWARD HEGSTROM, Houston Chronicle
VICTORIA -- Eighteen immigrants were discovered dead today after being
crowded into the back of a hot trailer truck with dozens of others.
Another 10 victims were hospitalized, and 19 others were apprehended by
authorities for treatment and questioning about the human smuggling
operation.
A suspect in the case was arrested in Harris County, said Roland P.
Ramirez, a spokesman for the Victoria County District Attorney's office.
No charges had been filed late Wednesday morning.
Authorities believe a total of about 60 people were crowded into the
refrigerated trailer, and some fled into the surrounding countryside.
It was not known if the refrigeration was working.
Helicopters circled the scene a few miles south of Victoria Wednesday
morning searching for survivors.
The victims included men and women, all adults, according to Victoria
County Sheriff Michael Ratcliff. He would not say where the immigrants
were from or where they were going.
Ratcliff said authorities were trying to interview survivors, but they
have not revealed much.
"These people have been traumatized," he said.
An employee at the Speedy Stop truck stop on U.S. 77 called authorities
about 2:15 a.m. to report the suspicious truck, parked behind the
building, Ratcliffe said.
He said authorities had been searching for the truck, but he would not say
why. The truck and several bodies were still at the scene in late morning.
Thirteen bodies were found inside the trailer and another four corpses
were on the ground nearby. Another sheriff's employee said someone had
opened the trailer from the outside before authorities arrived.
------
Source : Houston Chronicle
18 pulled from truck are dead; suspect arrested in Harris County
By EDWARD HEGSTROM, Houston Chronicle
VICTORIA -- Eighteen immigrants were discovered dead today after being
crowded into the back of a hot trailer truck with dozens of others.
Another 10 victims were hospitalized, and 19 others were apprehended by
authorities for treatment and questioning about the human smuggling
operation.
A suspect in the case was arrested in Harris County, said Roland P.
Ramirez, a spokesman for the Victoria County District Attorney's office.
No charges had been filed late Wednesday morning.
Authorities believe a total of about 60 people were crowded into the
refrigerated trailer, and some fled into the surrounding countryside.
It was not known if the refrigeration was working.
Helicopters circled the scene a few miles south of Victoria Wednesday
morning searching for survivors.
The victims included men and women, all adults, according to Victoria
County Sheriff Michael Ratcliff. He would not say where the immigrants
were from or where they were going.
Ratcliff said authorities were trying to interview survivors, but they
have not revealed much.
"These people have been traumatized," he said.
An employee at the Speedy Stop truck stop on U.S. 77 called authorities
about 2:15 a.m. to report the suspicious truck, parked behind the
building, Ratcliffe said.
He said authorities had been searching for the truck, but he would not say
why. The truck and several bodies were still at the scene in late morning.
Thirteen bodies were found inside the trailer and another four corpses
were on the ground nearby. Another sheriff's employee said someone had
opened the trailer from the outside before authorities arrived.
------
Source : Houston Chronicle